Severe depression is associated with decreased levels of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor in type 2 diabetes patients in Ghana

ABSTRACTObjectives Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) has been associated with several mental disorders including depression. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been suggested as a mediator between T2DM and depression. We investigated the association between BDNF and depression in T2DM patients in a primary health facility in Ghana.Methods In a case-control study design, depression was assessed using the Patient’s Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) in 200 T2DM patients and 160 non-diabetic controls. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on lifestyle, socio-demography and medical history. Fasting blood samples were collected from each participant to measure plasma lipid profile and serum BDNF levels.Results T2DM patients had higher levels of depression (31.5% vs 10.6, p